The proposed 3.8 million-sq.-ft. New York International Convention and Exhibition Center would compete with top centers in cities such as Anaheim, Calif., Washington D.C., and Los Angeles, Cuomo said in his speech continually rank higher than New York’s current Jacob K. Javits Center. He suggests converting the 18-acre Javits Center, which is in the middle of a $500 million renovation, into residential, retail and recreational areas.

“New York is the place to be and New York is the place people want to come to, but New York must stay ahead of the competition,” the governor said. “Convention centers are important economic generators. Right now, when you look at the list of where New York is in terms of convention centers, sadly, New York’s convention center, the Jacob Javits Center on the west side of Manhattan, is at the bottom of the list.”

The administration is working with the Genting Group on the project. The agreement between the state and Genting includes a casino expansion at the current site in addition to the convention and exhibition center, 3,000 hotel rooms and parking development. Genting officials are giving a 2014 completion date for the first phase of the project and a plan to begin construction of hotel rooms in November 2015. The company expects the project to create more than 10,000 construction jobs and 10,000 direct permanent jobs.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is adding $2.4 billion to fund high-speed rail systems around the country, bringing total funding to $10.4 billion. The agency already allocated $8 billion to these projects as part of the federal stimulus act, and the new allocations come from the government’s 2010 fiscal year budget. The new funds will be divided between 54 projects in 23 states. Some projects spurred by the total amount of funding include a high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando, Fla., a line between San Diego and San Francisco, and a line from Charlotte, N.C., that will lead to several Northeastern cities including Philadelphia and New York.

Meeting planners may have more choices when flying across the country now that Southwest Airlines has agreed to acquire AirTran Holdings, the parent company of AirTran Airways. Last week, Southwest agreed to the acquisition, worth approximately $3.4 billion including AirTran’s debt and capitalized aircraft operating leases. For meeting planners, this means more Southwest services in 37 new cities. The airline will expand its presence in cities such as New York and Boston and will begin operating at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the busiest airport in the world.

Some critics say that the deal will raise prices in markets where the two discount carriers already compete head to head, such as Baltimore or Orlando. But travelers who are irked by the rising number of airline fees will be happy to hear Southwest will continue its policy of no baggage fees once it formally takes over AirTran early next year.

The Southwest-AirTran merger is the second large deal announced this year. Last month, shareholders approved the merger of United Airlines and Continental Airlines. The new company, Chicago-based United Continental Holdings Inc., will begin selling tickets on the same website next spring. That’s when passengers will see new uniforms and logos from the airline. Planes in the company fleet will retain the United name but use the Continental logo.

Officials recommend checking hotel mattresses and headboards for flat, oval bugs and streaked droppings. Bedbugs can range in color from brown to purple to red. They hide in cracks and crevices, so check all clothing and luggage for adults and larvae. Any items suspected of carrying the insects should be placed in plastic bags until they can be laundered. Visit bedbugregistry.com, which has 20,000 reports as of this summer, to see if a hotel has reported a recent outbreak.

“In general, new hotels will use discounting to try to gain initial market share,” Bjorn Hanson, a clinical associate professor at the Tisch Center for Hospitality, told The New York Times. “This will last a long time, because there is no imminent occupancy recovery. And existing hotels will face increased price competition from hotels, which will require additional discounting.”

The lodging markets in New York and Houston were ripe for hotel growth several years ago. From 2004 through 2008, occupancy levels were at 85 percent in New York. By 2011, New York City hotel inventory is expected to exceed 90,000 rooms. People relocating to Houston after Hurricane Katrina made occupancy rates unusually high, making the hotel market an attractive investment. Houston is now home to 60,000 hotel rooms ranging from limited service to luxury.

“Hotel building cycles rarely mesh just right with economic cycles,” says Mark Lomanno, president of Smith Travel Research. Planning a new hotel can take two to four years, with construction taking an additional one to four years. Most of the hotels opening in 2010 were on drawing boards years ago, when the economy was healthy and demand for rooms strong.

“Once you put the foundation in the ground and start with construction, from an investment point of view, it almost always makes the most sense to proceed, even if market demand appears shaky,” he says, “because a completed and operational hotel can generate some revenue to defray development costs.”

But the buyer’s market won’t last forever. Some industry insiders already see a rebound on the horizon. Smith Travel Research released encouraging year-end numbers recently, which show that luxury demand increased 5 percent to 8 percent in each of the last six months, and is now at levels comparable to demand levels during the boom that drove rates to record highs in 2007.

The list includes details about new lodging, attractions, dining and tour opportunities for easy reference and consideration. The 2009 Group Tour Planner provides sample itineraries, group tour rates, admissions and complimentary policies for local group tour facilities and attractions.

To download the “What’s New List” or Group Tour Planner, go to visitlakegeorge.com.

By Jenna Schnuer

While downtown New York City or Philadelphia often immediately pop to mind when one starts thinking Northeast U.S., consider taking a broader view of the region’s map. Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island all offer an incredibly diverse range of experiences — from gardens that pair contemplation with conference to family friendly amusement parks that will instantly bump up the excitement level for any youth group to a serious dose of all-American history.

Since the region is — let’s call it compact, your conference doesn’t have to be one note on the location front; even if you’re staying in the countryside of Pennsylvania, the city isn’t far away. And, once you factor in easy access to a number of airports and other transportation options throughout the region, as well as some seriously budget-friendly accommodations and conference centers, it will be hard to imagine going anywhere other than the Northeast. 

Though he was speaking about Lancaster, Pennsylvania Dutch Country media relations manager Joel Cliff summed up all five states beautifully when he said: “From shopping and dining to theater and music, our multitude of attractions and easy access garner high praise and make a stay here a good value any time of year.”  

Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island

If you’re after a downtown conference or meeting near New York City but, well, not in it, head directly to Hartford, Connecticut. With a still pretty new convention center at your service, easy access from the airport and a vibrant cultural scene, it’s a wonderful surprise for all first-time visitors. The Connecticut Convention Center opened its doors in 2005, bumping the city’s convention space up to an impressive 540,000 square feet. Other recent additions to the city include the 22-story, $77 million Hartford Marriott Downtown.  

In a New York State of mind? Head upstate for the best deals around — and gorgeous landscapes that invite reflection, photography and smiles. The state capital, Albany, has a rich history, including a Dutch-themed church founded in 1642. With the oldest pulpit in America, the First Church of Albany’s three rooms of meeting space are well worth considering for smaller groups. Or step back just 250 years at the Mabee Farm Historic Site, where the 1760 Dutch barn seats up to 125 people. 

In Buffalo, there’s plenty of good news for meeting planners, including the opening of the new Burchfield Penney Art Center, an 84,000-sq. ft. museum that highlights the works of artists from the region, including watercolorist Charles E. Burchfield. Come spring 2009, the city’s former Federal Building will reopen as a mixed-use facility, including an all-suites Embassy Suites. To really set the scene for your faith-based meeting, contact the CVB to set up a free tour of Buffalo’s Houses of Worship. The tour includes Catholic churches that date back to the 1850s, a Hellenic Orthodox Church from 1907 and much more. For more on the churches of Buffalo, request a copy of the Houses of Worship documentary DVD. 

Long a favorite summer gathering spot in New York, Lake George in Warren County also offers — year-round — plenty for meeting-goers. Time your meeting to the Adirondack Balloon Festival for a truly
uplifting event. 

Want an in-city conference without the big city prices? Providence, Rhode Island, is a must-consider budget-friendly alternative. Home to Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design, plenty of museums and historic sites and, from May through October, WaterFire, a must-see art installation on the river, Providence is a compact yet loaded city.

New Jersey and Pennsylvania 

For a true New Jersey experience, head, as they call it, down the shore. The Wildwoods’ beaches and the Wildwood Boardwalk will put a smile on anybody’s face. And the on-the-beach Wildwood Convention Center offers a beautiful view and all the high-tech goodies you could ever desire. 

Within minutes of reaching Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, the calm settles in. This is a place with a different pace, one that’s guaranteed to saturate your meeting or conference with serenity. “With a history steeped in religious freedom and Amish neighbors, Lancaster County is a natural and inspirational destination for faith-based groups every year,” says Pennsylvania Dutch Country’s Joel Cliff.

As of April 2009, Lancaster, which already has more than 6,800 overnight rooms and 150,000 sq. ft. of combined meeting space, will jump to a new level of meeting and conference readiness. That’s when the doors will open on the new $170 million Lancaster County Convention Center, an 80,000-sq. ft. downtown facility, as well as a 300-room Marriott hotel.  Two other local standouts popular with faith-based groups are the Willow Valley Resort & Conference Center, which has a prayer chapel, and the meeting and dormitory facilities at Lancaster Bible College.

In Valley Forge, conference attendees will take inspiration from the story of George Washington’s American Continental Army, which waited out the tough winter of 1777-78 in the area. Like many areas of Pennsylvania, Valley Forge makes it easy to plan a conference for attendees flying in from around the U.S.; they’ll have the option of choosing the most reasonable flights to nearby cities, including Philadelphia (26 miles), Baltimore (101 miles), and New York City (110 miles).

If your space needs are modest, look at the recently renovated nine-acre Dolce Valley Forge. It has 24,000 sq. ft. of function space, 22 conference rooms, and 327 guest rooms and suites. The Dolce’s crown jewel is a 7,200-sq. ft. ballroom with floor to ceiling windows that bring the sunset inside.  Another renovation in the area turned the former Valley Forge Suites into the 229 all-suite Embassy Suites Philadelphia-Valley Forge. The hotel features nine meeting rooms and more than 5,000 square feet of meeting space.

Few areas offer such instant connection to nature and beauty as the Brandywine Valley, which stretches from SE Pennsylvania to Delaware. Loaded with gardens and galleries, there is endless inspiration to be found. If you’re planning a large conference for 2010 or beyond, an 18,500 seat riverside soccer stadium is in the works near the Commodore Barry Bridge in Chester, 13 miles outside of downtown Philadelphia. 

When it comes to winter fun, Pennsylvania’s Greater Reading area is unstoppable. Consider settling into the Bear Creek Mountain Resort, with 116 rooms, 26,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and plenty of skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing.

This story was originally published in the February 2009 issue of Rejuvenate magazine.

From waterfront adventures to historic sites, shopping and ethnic dining, these cities offer choice, ease, and charm on a budget.

By Christine Born

It may be a global world, but small cities in this country are enjoying a revival as visitors rediscover the history, main streets, neighborhoods, and other charms of these special places. The renewed interest is attributable to changing travel patterns and preferences, and maybe some spillover from the “go local” movement. For meeting planners, these charms also include value, accessibility, security, variety, and hospitality.

Whether on the outskirts of metropolitan areas or situated amidst smaller towns in more rural areas, these cities are all within a six-hour drive of one-third of the country and served by airlines offering inexpensive flights. One savvy traveler calls them “all-American” cities, because when you visit any one of them, you encounter an individual character and an independent streak.

Each city has museums, shops, restaurants, and outdoor activities, many in walking distance of hotels and meeting facilities. You’ll find room for your events, and your attendees and their families can explore local color and history, enjoying new sights, stories, traditions, cuisines, and crafts. Conscious of the importance of religious meetings and events, these cities also offer special services and activities for your needs.

Albany

“We use the word “access” a lot,” says Gina Mintzer, director of sales for the Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau in New York. “We’re accessible to most of the Northeast, Washington [D.C.], and Montreal. There are cheap flights in and out, and we’re on Amtrak’s busiest corridor.

“We also have access to media coverage while your group is here, because you’re a big fish in a little pond,” she adds. “Your guests see coverage in the local paper, or hear about your event on the radio.”

And, to continue her point, she lists access to otherservices, including a welcome to your event by a city official, the right letters for your program, volunteer help, and dine-around evenings and tours organized by the bureau.

According to Mintzer, religious groups didn’t look at the city until it landed its first Promise Keeper gathering in 2002. Attendees were so pleased, they returned again the following year, followed by a Women of Faith conference, which came back three years in a row. “The first year, they had 14,000 people and had budgeted for 9,000,” says Mintzer. Women of the Word and the female ministries of the Seventh-day Adventists brought events to Albany, too.

“The women are tougher and more demanding than men,” she says, mainly in terms of amenities and price, but they were pleased with what they found in the capital city.

Shopping is popular and plentiful, with two major malls in the area central to hotels and close to downtown. The 1.8-million-square-foot Crossgates Mall has more than 250 stores as well as the area’s first IMAX theatre. Colonie Center Mall has one of only two L.L. Bean stores in the state, along with the popular Christmas Tree Shops and The Cheesecake Factory. “Women left a Women of the Word conference early to get to the Talbots Outlet,” Mintzer says of another popular shopping mecca.

At the Albany Institute of History and Art, a special exhibition, “Hudson River Panorama: 400 Years of History, Art, and Culture,” commemorates the narratives of the Hudson River. Among the current exhibitions at the New York State Museum is “Rockwell Kent: This Is My Own,” which chronicles the artist’s life and work; it continues through May 17, 2009. The history of Albany can also be traced in much of its robust 19th- and early-20th-century architecture. The most visible example is the New York State Capitol sitting atop one of the seven hills that shaped the city’s landscape. There are other architectural treasures, including four historic homes that are featured on one tour.

The Albany Aqua Ducks are a popular attraction in season; two state-of-the-art amphibious vehicles take guests on a 90-minute guided tour to see the sites of historic Albany by land. Then the vehicles take to the Hudson River for the waterborne portion of the tour. The 42-seat Ducks also take students on educational field trips. The Albany Trolleys conduct tours all year, with group packages including entertainment venues and restaurants. The USS Slater, restored to WWII configuration, is the only destroyer escort afloat in America. “It appeals to all generations, and has been attracting bigger crowds than ever,” Mintzer says. The ship is available for group tours and overnight camping for youth groups. Fun runs on the riverfront footpaths, a walk from downtown properties, are popular add-on activities.

May is tulip time in Albany, with more than 200,000 bulbs in bloom, offering a natural theme for some meetings. Another popular draw for attendees who arrive early or stay after the conference is the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, 80 minutes away.

Fast Facts:
•    Room for up to 1,500 in convention center
•    Room for 5,000-14,000 in arena
•    800 hotel rooms downtown
•    5,800 committable rooms in area

Chattanooga

Rated one of the top tourism destinations for families in the Southeast by Disney Family Travel, Chattanooga has enough attractions to rival most theme parks, but is a living, walkable, comfortable city. In fact, you’ll be surprised by the number of families strolling the streets around the Tennessee Aquarium and downtown riverfront park during the day and into the night, when there often are free outdoor concerts.

One of the best features for visitors is that, upon arriving downtown, they can park their car and walk to everything. For those too foot-weary to walk, the city has free electric shuttle buses running from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. with stops close to restaurants and shops. The Tennessee Aquarium has added a new boat to its fleet, which can host receptions. The River Gorge Explorer is a 70-passenger high-speed catamaran that cruises into “Tennessee’s Grand Canyon,” winding along 26 miles of the Tennessee River. An aquarium naturalist points out wildlife and historic points of interest along the way. Chattanooga Riverboat has added to its complex with Pier 2, a docking facility that’s actually a stationary boat offering two decks that can handle 1,200 people for events. The Southern Belle departs from the dock for sightseeing tours, dinner and moonlight cruises, and special Dixieland and Gospel Cruises.

Adding to the downtown attractions, a complex with 12 stadium theaters and shopping is being planned for a location across from the aquarium. More artists have moved into the area around the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel complex and are opening galleries beside new restaurants. In 2009, the Choo Choo celebrates its 100th anniversary, and is planning several events and offering special packages throughout the year.

The Chattanooga Convention Center, a state-of-the-art, one-level, 185,000-square-foot facility, has received its “green rating.” Other offsite function venues include the Chattanooga African-American Museum’s Bessie Smith Performance Hall, the Tivoli Theater, and the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium. Within walking distance of downtown Chattanooga, the historic Bluff View Art District has galleries, landscape arts, restaurants, and space for small meetings. The River Gallery exhibits fine art and crafts from local, regional, national, and international artists and a whimsical sculpture garden is located on a hill overlooking the river. You can watch artisans bake breads, make chocolates, or roast coffee in the shops around the square and then enjoy the results in Rembrandt’s Coffee House. Just below the hill is the Hunter Museum of American Art, built on a 90-foot limestone bluff overlooking the river. A 1904 classical revival mansion and a striking contemporary structure house a small but fine collection of American art.

If you want to venture outside the downtown district, the Buttonwillow Church Civil War Dinner Theater serves Southern cuisine based on authentic 19th-century recipes.

The Outdoor Chattanooga Visitor’s Center is a new one-stop place for groups looking for adventure. There’s whitewater rafting on the Oconee River, world-class rock climbing, mountain biking on Raccoon Mountain, biking along river paths, and kayaking from downtown river launch areas.

“Religious groups, especially those that are targeting young people, find what they are looking for here,” says Steve Genovesi, vice president of sales for the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “There’s also an amusement park at Lake Winnepesaukah about 30 minutes away.”

In addition to the key downtown attractions, Lookout Mountain now has an upscale venue, where groups “get that retreat atmosphere,” he says.

Fast Facts:
•    185,000-square-foot convention center
•    Room for 11,000 in UTC Arena
•    9,000 guestrooms in metro area
•    Room for 3,500 at Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge

Huntsville

This Southern city has built its reputation as America’s space capital since 1950, when Dr. Wernher von Braun and 117 German scientists arrived to develop rockets for the United States Army. History wasn’t made until 1958 when the first American satellite, Explorer I, was launched into orbit. The city, also known as Rocket City, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the launch with a new pavilion housing a 363-foot Saturn V rocket, at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, a museum and popular family attraction. 

This year Huntsville was named one of the top green cities in the country by Popular Science magazine, partially for its air quality, electricity use, and transportation habits, but also in the category of “green living,” which recognizes the city’s outdoor spaces.

“One of the great things about Huntsville is that there are so many things to see and do,” says Charles Winters, vice president of marketing for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s very easy to get around—no more than 10 to 15 minutes to get from one place to another.”

Winters is referring to the diversity of attractions in the area, from the technology at the space center to the living history museum, Alabama Constitution Village, and a myriad of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, and watersports.

“Groups here enjoy progressive dine-around evenings with activities at themed restaurants,” Winters says. “They can plan a reception at one attraction, dinner at another, and close at another.”

The area’s connection to the German scientists who settled here is reflected in the German restaurants and bakeries in the downtown area, but there are also restaurants that feature Southern, Greek, and French cuisine, as well as barbecue and upscale steak and seafood places, includingThe Chophouse and Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

The Von Braun Center is a multipurpose entertainment venue that houses major concerts, Broadway performances, ballets, symphonies, and sporting events. The 9,000-seat  arena, 2,153-seat Concert Hall and 502-seat Playhouse Theatre also can be used as meeting areas for conferences or seminars.

The 112-acre Huntsville Botanical Garden has venues for special events.  In addition to its aquatic, perennial, and annual displays, the garden features a festival for every season of the year and the largest season butterfly house in the nation.

Huntsville’s blend of cultures can be sampled in the wide range of themed tours a group can experience in the city and the surrounding region, including:  “Historic Churches and Stained Glass” (1859 Episcopal Church of the Nativity, 1859 First Presbyterian Church, 1869 First United Methodist Church,
St. Mary of the Visitation Church, Mooresville Brick Church, and Mooresville Church of Christ); “White Columns & Historic Architecture” (Normal Historic District, Twickenham Historic District, Old Town Historic District,
Burritt on the Mountain, and Weeden House Museum); “African-American Heritage” (Oakwood College, Alabama A&M University, Alabama State Black Archives, Research Center and Museum, and Imhotep Art Gallery); “Adventures in Shopping” (Madison Square Mall, Parkway Place Mall, Boaz Outlet Centers, and the Unclaimed Baggage Center, which features lost treasures from around the world); “Civil War” (Historic Huntsville Depot, Twickenham Historic District, and Maple Hill Cemetery); and “A Space Odyssey” (U.S. Space and Rocket  Center, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Spacedome IMAX Theatre, and Sci-Quest).

Visitors to Harmony Park, a nature preserve with free-ranging exotic and endangered animals, can drive a two-mile route to see zebras, zebus, antelope, buffalo, ostriches, pythons, and crocodiles.

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, which encompasses 21 courses in eight cities in Alabama, begins  in Huntsville at the 54-hole Hampton Cove Golf Course.

Fast Facts:
•    170,000 square feet in Von Braun Center
•    10,964-square-foot ballroom in new Westin Huntsville
•    6,200 guestrooms, with another 400 under construction

Branson

The Ozark Mountains destination claims only 8,000 residents, but draws eight million visitors a year to its 52 live performance theaters, three pristine lakes, 12 championship golf courses, international award-winning theme park, attractions and museums, shopping, and dining options.

Branson, Missouri, is less than a day’s drive from one-third of the United States’ population, and in 2009, the new Branson Airport, eight miles from downtown, will provide low-cost commercial flights from major U.S. cities.

“Groups choose Branson because there are so many sights, attractions, and shows that are family oriented,” says Debbie Philpot, sales and convention services manager of the Branson/Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “You don’t have to worry about content or offending anyone. Groups can come and truly relax.”

Religious groups are targeted with shows like Noah—The Musical, at the Sight & Sound Theatre. The Bible-based show has more than 50 live animals and 50 animatronic animals onstage, set on a four-story stage that is the Ark. “It looks as if you’re sitting in the Ark itself,” says Philpot.

Another show that is part of Branson’s “Christian Broadway” is The Promise, a look into the life of Jesus Christ. The show, held at the Mansion America Theater, places a pious spin on big-stage song and dance.

Shopping is another major activity, and Branson runs the gamut from craft shops to factory outlet malls. Historic Downtown Branson calls itself Hometown USA. You can step back in time at Dick’s Old-time 5&10 and Branson Mercantile. Jewelry and clothing boutiques, as well as quilt, glassware, collectible shops, and restaurants, line the streets, which also offer more than 20 historical sites for visitors to tour.

Two blocks away is the new outdoor mall at Branson Landing on Lake Taneycomo, with three miles of shopping and restaurants, including the Midwest’s only Bass Pro Shops, where you can live-test boats and fishing equipment on the lake. Branson Landing Cruises has daily excursions aboard a 100-foot yacht or authentic 100-foot paddlewheel riverboat. There are also concerts and a dramatic water-fountain, synchronized to light, sound, music, and fire.

The Grand Village Shops has themed restaurants and a collection of specialty stores located on “The Strip” near the Grand Palace, including Kringle’s, Missouri’s largest Christmas Store, and a Thomas Kinkade shop. 

The Branson Mill Craft Village is a 60,000-square-foot shopping center and working village where visitors can watch demonstrations of glass blowing, leather carving, china painting, wood carving, and other crafts. There are 30 individually owned shops in the Engler Block, featuring Ozarks craftsmanship and artistry. Wood-carver Steve Engler, famous for his hand-carved Santas, started the tradition by carving his pieces as his customers watched. Father Time Clocks has one of the largest for-sale cuckoo clocks in the world. Silver Dollar City features the new Culinary & Craft School, with handcrafted items from the park’s master craftsmen, heirloom displays, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and classes.

Locally caught catfish and trout are featured on many menus, especially the waterfront eateries throughout Branson Landing, including The White House River Fish House. Steak, seafood, and a variety of cuisines are available at the Liberty Tavern at the Promenade Hilton, Ernie Biggs Chicago Style Dueling Piano Bar, Garfield’s Restaurant & Pub, Loredo, Waxy O’Shea’s Irish Pub, and more. All the shopping areas have numerous restaurants, including barbecue and family friendly buffets.

The Branson Convention Center, opened in September 2007, has 220,000 square feet of space in a state-of-the-art setting. A curving, exposed-timber pedestrian concourse gives visitors a view of the lakefront as they travel between the center’s facilities and the adjacent Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. The 12-story hotel has 293 rooms, including 194 traditional rooms and suites, and 99 condotel units available for nightly rental.

“There are hotels, shows, and activities for every budget,” Philpot says. “We want to help planners be good stewards of their group’s money.”

Fast Facts:
• 220,000-square-foot convention center
• More than 200 facilities with 18,000+ guest units
• New website for planners: meetinbranson.net